“SHUFFLING the deck-chairs” is how the union representing nurses and mid- wives at Tamworth hospital has described new measures to address staffing concerns, and believes the “short-term fixes” doesn’t equal longer-term solutions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At a meeting organised by Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson on Wednesday, hospital management agreed to more resources for the hospital’s emergency and maternity departments after ongoing concerns about staffing levels the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said were threatening staff welfare and patient safety.
Hunter New England Health chief executive officer Michael Di Rienzo said the meeting had included “open and frank conversation”, with management agreeing to an extra position on the maternity evening shift, effective immediately, and additional staff from the new emergency short-stay unit to assist in the emergency department.
The unit will begin operating to its full capacity for a three-month trial period, and, “if required, the staffing levels will be reviewed at this time”, Mr Di Rienzo said.
“These measures are permanently in place and will be carefully monitored to ensure they continue to be effective and assist staff.”
He said while he “had hoped this issue could be managed locally, I am now confident that we have addressed the immediate concerns of staff”.
Nurses association general secretary Brett Holmes said they were not convinced long-term outcomes had been achieved, although they were glad management had finally acknowledged the concerns.
He made it clear though, that in the case of maternity, the extra position came from the reallocation of a vacant community midwifery position, “rather than new midwifery resources dedicated to the maternity unit”.
“We are also far from convinced that moving one nursing position from the new emergency short stay unit will solve the staffing issues in the emergency department during night shift, given the (unit) will require its allocated staff when it begins operating at full capacity,” Mr Holmes said.
He was pleased though that hospital management had at least acknowledged the triage, resuscitation and team leader roles must be rostered separately in the ED.
Meanwhile, yesterday morning two long-running disputes relating to the staffing levels in the maternity unit and emergency department were concluded in the Industrial Relations Commission. Hunter New England Local Health sought to withdraw both its actions against the nurses’ association, after outlining to the commission the measures agreed to on Wednesday.
